Coloradoan Winter - your source for winter fun, ski-reports

Couple heading to Games on Visa
By Rahaf Kalaaji
RahafKalaaji@coloradoan.com
    Heather and Karl Olsen are going to the Games, courtesy of Visa.
    But they aren't charging their trip to the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The Fort Collins couple beat astronomical odds to win an all-expenses paid trip for two from Visa.
    "I don't gamble, I don't play the lottery," Heather Olsen said of being the one in 2,081,119 people to win the Visa contest. "I didn't even enter. They just took qualified purchases between Sept. 15 and Nov. 30."
    The Olsens aren't sure whether it was the Christmas presents they bought their three children, the business trip to New Orleans or the $2 cup of coffee at Starbucks that was the lucky purchase.
    But whatever it was, it's paying off.
    Their prize package includes plane tickets, a hotel stay, ground transportation, meals, tickets to six events and Olympic outer gear for both of them. Its retail value is $18,706. The Olsens also received $5,706 to cover the taxes they will have to pay for their prize.
    The Games begin with the opening ceremonies Friday evening.
    Karl and Heather Olsen said they were skeptical when they received the FedEx package on Jan. 4 telling them they had won a trip to the Olympics.
    "I actually threw it on the counter for a couple of days," said Heather Olsen, a former elementary school music teacher who now stays home with her children. "Then I faxed it to my dad, who's an attorney, and he said it looked legitimate."
    After sending in notarized documents, the trip became official and Karl Olsen, an ophthalmologist, rearranged his patient schedule so they could go to Salt Lake City for five days. "I'm looking forward to being part of the international Olympic Village," he said. "Seeing the world's elite athletes is just going to be amazing."
    Their itinerary includes watching competitions in super giant slalom skiing, ice dancing, U.S. men's hockey, women's curling (which Karl Olsen described as "ice shuffleboard"), men's and women's cross-country skiing and women's bobsledding.
    "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of the Olympics," Karl Olsen said. "It would be a shame to have the Olympics in your back yard and not be able to experience it."
    Heather Olsen's aunt will be flying in from Minnesota to take care of the couple's children, ages 10, 7 and 4. The children haven't complained about the couple taking a vacation without them, but they have some requests.
    Ten-year-old Ariana said she wants a Beanie Baby from the Olympics.
    "I sort of feel jealous," Ariana said. "But I'm excited for them."
    Heather Olsen said they tried to work out a way to take the children, but it was impossible. Still, they will buy plenty of presents - on their Visa card.
    "I feel indebted to them (Visa)," Heather Olsen said.
    "I'm afraid my wife thinks it's a license to charge now," joked Karl Olsen, a Fort Collins native and 1985 graduate of Poudre High School.
    Every day, the Olsens get a newsletter updating them about the Olympics, the weather in Salt Lake City and advising them about what to wear to be warm. They received special tags to put on their luggage so it will be taken directly from the airport to their hotel near the Olympic Village.
    They bought new luggage for the trip. They charged it.
    "The moral of the story is keep that economy going: buy, buy, buy," Heather Olsen laughed.

Copyright 2001 the Coloradoan.
Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service.
(updated August 1, 2001).
Send us your questions and comments.